Young Ambassadors aid health center

April 18, 2014

Supporters of the Jefferson County Fourth Street Health Center based in Steubenville who are planning to attend its eighth-annual fundraiser gala set for April 27 at St. Florian Hall in Wintersville will be greeted by a group of young men and women from area high schools who are known as the Young Ambassadors.

"The Young Ambassadors will be dressed in their gowns and suits and will be greeting and seating guests as they arrive," explained Barb Steitz, chairperson of the Young Ambassador Committee.

"Each Young Ambassador will be introduced, and the scholarship winners will be announced. This is a very exciting night for these Young Ambassadors," Steitz said.

The doors will open at 5 p.m., and dinner is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased by contacting Ann Quillen, director of the Jefferson County Fourth Street Health Center, at (740) 283-2856. Organizers hope to raise $140,000 this year to help support the free clinic.

Two institutions and two individuals will be honored at the gala where Dr. Tom Brown and his wife, Suzanne, are co-chairs of this year's event.

Trinity Health System will be recognized with the Humanitarian Award for stepping forward earlier this year when the roof at the health center started leaking following days of heavy snow and rain.

The Peoples National Bank of Mount Pleasant will receive the Community Award for financially supporting the health center satellite office in Mount Pleasant.

The medical honoree this year is Dr. John Hyland of the Tony Teramana Cancer Center, and Bea Antol has been named the volunteer of the year at the clinic.

"The gala will be a semi-formal, black-tie-optional affair that will include dinner, more than $10,000 in donated prizes for a live auction and mystery boxes and recognition of area honorees. We have added a champagne hour with passed hors d'oeuvres prior to dinner to allow for more networking opportunities. And Sonny Sunseri and his jazz group will be providing entertainment at the gala. This is going to be an exciting and rewarding evening," Suzanne Brown said.

"The Young Ambassadors are a great group of sophomores, juniors, and seniors who come from the high schools and Jefferson County Joint Vocational School in Jefferson County," Steitz said.

"They play a huge part in helping to keep the Jefferson County Fourth Street Health Center moving forward in caring for the uninsured people of our community. Our Young Ambassadors work very hard on many fundraising events. They begin by selling tubes of mini M&Ms. They call it 'Money for Meds.' They give out the M&Ms and ask people to enjoy the candy, and when the candy is gone, add some money to the tube and return it to the Young Ambassador," Steitz explained.

"We know that each tube will hold $14 in quarters, but any amount is appreciated," she said.

"The Young Ambassadors also put on a family-friendly dinner-show each spring. This year we had 'Hey Nunnie Nunnie,' two comediennes from New York, and also Jack Marlin, an Elvis impersonator from Cambridge. We hold a bake sale at Heartland and a huge pancake breakfast at Wintersville United Methodist Church. The Young Ambassadors also raise money on their own, such as cookie sales at their school, candle sales, hat sales, etc.," Steitz said.

"They are becoming more and more creative with their ideas each year," she said.

"The Young Ambassador juniors or seniors who earn the most money will receive a scholarship. Sophomores will receive a gift card. We award one $1,000 and two $500 scholarships each year. In addition, last year two board members sponsored a $500 scholarship, and Franciscan University of Steubenville matched it, giving one Young Ambassador $1,000 toward her tuition. We continue to work with the area colleges to assist with additional scholarship money," she said.

"Any area high school students who may be interested in becoming a Young Ambassador are encouraged to call the Jefferson County Fourth Street Health Center," Steitz said.

"We would love to have every high school in Jefferson County represented this year. The 2014-15 Young Ambassador Program will begin in June, giving them more opportunity to raise money through summer activities such as car washes, etc.," Steitz said.